conveyed as intractable, brave, and disobedient.
Another example of the discrepancy between the characters is the way that they are physically represented. Sophocles generated Ismene with a very feminine look. She is depicted as having blonde hair, being full bodied, and eye-catching. However, Antigone is portrayed as gaunt, washed out, and unattractive. With such antagonism between the sisters, Sophocles presents drama by developing another form of rivalry and another reason for Antigone to rebel against the law.
At the end of the story when Antigone was listening to her punishment for burying Polynices, Ismene speaks up and attempts to be held responsible for the crime. She pleads with Antigone to let her die alongside her, however, Antigone did not want her sister to take any blame in something she had nothing to do with, so she disregarded her sister’s pleas. Sophocles included this situation because it was another disagreement between the sisters and added more controversy to the plot.
Sophocles included the rivalry between the personalities because it gave each character something to act off of. Ismene’s role was important to the plot because she played the vigilant girl and provided the story with drama and second-guessing by having contradictory opinions.
Secondly, another character that affected the story with such a minor part was Haemon. Haemon, being the king’s son, had a lot of expectations and generalizations to live up to, but he dispersed them when he stood up to his father.
One thing Haemon did that influenced the plot was to rebut his father’s opinions. Prior to conversing with Creon, Haemon had a positive outlook about his father. He felt
he was a good ruler and was fair, yet those beliefs were altered when they argued their viewpoints concerning Antigone. Astonishingly, Haemon stands his ground through out the entire argument, despite his father branding Antigone to be nothing better than a criminal.
Haemon’s notions were critical to the story because they explained how deeply he felt for Antigone. If he had sided with his father and didn’t believe that he was mistaken then Creon would never have realized just how wrong he was in making the law against burying Polynices.
Haemon becoming a part of the story was also essential because the quarrel between the father and son was vital to explaining the death of his feelings. Their dispute was basically setting the stage for what was next to come, Haemon’s death. If Haemon’s adoration for Antigone had not been justified or elucidated before his death, then it would have seemed irrational and peculiar for him to take his own life. The author used the fight to prevent questioning of Haemon’s death, later in the story.
Another important role Haemon took in the story was commiting suicide. By killing himself in the end, he was not only proving his love for Antigone, he was also punishing his father. In lines 1358- 1364, a messenger explains his first hand account of Haemon’s tragic death. “But the boy gave him a wild burning glance, spat in his face, not a word in reply, he drew his sword- his father rushed out, running as Haemon lunged and missed! And then, doomed, desperate with himself…he buried it in his body…” Haemon blamed Creon for the death of Antigone; he believed that she died because of his wrongful orders. By killing himself, Haemon was getting revenge on his father by
showing him what it felt like to lose a loved one.
Thirdly, a final character that was a necessity to the story was Tiresias. The King had utmost respect for this elder because he had graciously helped him in previous situations where Creon had needed advice. Because he regarded him so highly, he listened to Tiresias argument a little more thoroughly than he listened to the other people who questioned his decisions, but not without throwing in a few of his own opinions out there as well. Tiresias claimed that Creon was responsible for getting the city in an uproar. He also informed him that the gods were now deaf to Thebes’ prayers and that Thebes was against Creon’s initial decision.
Another point Tiresias brought up in his defense is in lines 1336-1337, “Stubbornness brands you for stupidity- pride is a crime.” Sophocles used this to hint the key reason behind all of the anarchy in the story, which was Creon’s increasing stubbornness and cocky attitude.
At one point during the dispute, Tiresias foresees Haemon’s life ending. In lines 1182-1184, Tiresias shares his prediction with Creon. “The chariot of the sun will not race through so many circuits more, before you have surrendered one born of your own loins, your own flesh and blood…” This was used in the plot as a simple example of foreshadowing and a way of implying to the reader what might happen next.
By continuing his argument and insisting that Creon was guilty of provoking all the unremitting chaos, Tiresias, without knowing, finally persuaded Creon that he was wrong and his next step should be to let Antigone go free.
The role Sophocles gave to Tiresias was to bring Creon back to reality and save him from his own hubris. Since Tiresias was an esteemed prophet, his personality was perfect for convincing Creon. His approach was effective and his character’s attributes were also beneficial.
In conclusion, drawing the line between minor and major characters in a story should only come down to one thing, if everything in the story revolves around them, then they must be a major character. There are several roles that an author creates for every story; each role or personality fits together like a puzzle. For example, without those blank sky pieces that fit at the top of a puzzle, it can never be completed. Same rule applies to any story, without the minor characters to reveal hidden information or to simple add drama, then a story can never be completed. In the Greek tragedy, Antigone, the author, Sophocles, presents the minor characters in his story with important functions and responsibilities. Ismene, Antigone’s sister, had the purpose of foiling Antigone in order to create undeclared confliction between the characters. Haemon, Antigone’s fiancée, was meant to bring justification to the string of deaths at the end of the story. And lastly, Tiresias, the respected prophet, was carefully produced as the character who pushed Creon’s conscious over the edge and influenced him the most to withdraw his punishment for Antigone.
